Foremost Filipino mixed martial arts fighter Eduard Folayang is keenly preparing for the defense of his welterweight title against Hawaiian Lowen Tynanese in Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) 22 Dekada on December 1 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Folayang told The Manila Times in a telephone interview that he has started his training on September and is heavily incorporating weight lifting into his daily routines.

“Yes, I really need to focus myself on training particularly on increasing my strength, speed and power,” said Folayang, explaining that Tynanes is a known wrestler and tough ground fighter. “I must be stronger than before but faster of course.”

Folayang’s weight training is geared to improving the strength of his upper and lower body. In addition to weight lifting, his training program at the Lakay Team gym in Baguio City includes plyometrics, running and rigorous sparring. His training would terminate a week before the fight, “Of course, every fighter needs some rest. We have to avoid fatigue before the fight night,” Folayang said.

The 24-year-old Folayang (12-2 win-loss with five knockouts and two submissions) said that he is expecting a total war from his challenger. He said that he watched Tynanes’ fight videos and it appears the Hawaiian never backs down from any challenge.

“He is very aggressive as to what I saw in the videos but I’m not afraid of course,” said Folayang, who also fights in One Fighting Championship. “He has a great built of a fighter, so I must be ready and cautious against him.”

Folayang, a consistent gold medalist in wushu sanshou (full contact fight) events of the Southeast Asian Games said that he has no prediction as to what round the fight would end but promised that he would go for the kill when the opportunity is there.